COnsidering on making some improved "starter kits" for reloading

[bsumoba]

Has anyone thought of simply doing this to help the shooters wanting to get into reloading?

So, the sets you buy from Lee or Hornady or RCBS are good, but within a few weeks, most of us are going...crap, I should have just bought [insert upgraded] part instead. OR...you have to buy a number of other items as well.

I'm thinking well, hell, why not make a more complete, improved set and sell it?

It will of course be single stage, but it will come with nearly EVERYTHING you need to start reloading properly and will have parts that will be an improvement to what you get in these kits.

For example: balance scales, although accurate, are slow, difficult to work with for most and digital scales are accurate enough and easier to use.

So, with that said, I'm thinking why make improved "kits" that are caliber specific as well. Maybe start with 9mm, 40cal/10mm, 38special/357, 45acp, .223, and .308.

Kits don't have case gauges. Depending on the person's caliber, include the case gauges in the kit. include better case lube if doing .223

Also include the dies for the particular cartridge in the kit.

I would actually set it up so they can literally clamp the press onto a sturdy table; yes, direct bolt on is better, but many people dont have a table to dedicate and the luxury or space, and in my experience, a nicely mounted press to a wood block and very nice clamps and a sturdy tabletop is all you need, especially for pistol and smaller calibers like .223.

whatcha think?

if you think there is interest, i might pursue this further.

[NytWolf]

You're thinking from the consumer's perspective.

From the retailer and manufacturer's perspective, they want to create kits that will sell relatively quickly at what consumers will see as a value. Consumers who buy kits are usually starting up so they won't know what they need -- the kits that are out there provide a starting point. If the manufacturer provides good products for what an experienced reloader would want in a kit, the price starts increasing. A newb is going to get turned off by the price increase and look elsewhere.

Overall pricing is what most newbs look at. By including a die kit, the price goes up. By including a die kit, unpopular cartridge sets might stay on the shelves for a long time. No retailer wants money tied up in merchandise they can't move.

[zfields]

Kempf gun shop/reloading did or still does do kits like this. Not aware of anyone else who does.

[bsumoba]

You're thinking from the consumer's perspective.

From the retailer and manufacturer's perspective, they want to create kits that will sell relatively quickly at what consumers will see as a value. Consumers who buy kits are usually starting up so they won't know what they need -- the kits that are out there provide a starting point. If the manufacturer provides good products for what an experienced reloader would want in a kit, the price starts increasing. A newb is going to get turned off by the price increase and look elsewhere.

Overall pricing is what most newbs look at. By including a die kit, the price goes up. By including a die kit, unpopular cartridge sets might stay on the shelves for a long time. No retailer wants money tied up in merchandise they can't move.

point taken...im not talking about a major retailer...im thinking a small home business where this small business will hold some inventory of the major or popular cartridges, and the components that are an improvement to the current kits out there and essentially sell them a sort of "configure-to-order" starter kit.

i know when i first started, I had to do A LOT of research.

for a few more dollars, they can skip the research, buy a kit and setup that will get them going and have practically everything they need and within minutes of receiving the kit and they will not feel the need to buy more things afterwards.

i really think the value will be in the fact that everything was thought out for them and only when they want to get more precision or more faster in their reloading will they need to upgrade.

[Ezekiel2000]

Brian Enos actually already does this...and does it pretty well too.
For instance:

http://www.brianenos.com/store/dillon.ez.550.html

If you scroll through like you're going to buy you'll see that he's got the major options down and you can subtract or add as needed. His store is a great resource for reloaders old and new.

[Mot Mi]

Do something like Brian Enos. Basically start with a press and then have the consumer pick out what parts they want added to make a complete kit. Kinda like the ar15 uppers that some sites have where you're able to add certain parts to make a co plete upper.

[CK_32]

I've been on my RCBS single stage reloading kit aside from a trimmer, dies and a caliper I still use the starter kit I started with 4 years ago and am perfectly happy with it.

Also they have different levels of kits from low end starters, to full premium kits with all the bells and whistles. Also a LOT of people live with out needing the next best thing. Like everything else there are the guys who enjoy the gear the way it is, and others like your self that want and get every new upgrade week by week and have to keep up with the best gear (Not that it's a bad thing).

Also remember your premium gear won't be everyone's premium gear, and your focusing as a very select market. I think it's a cool inventive idea but will put your self into a hole trying to do this. Again limited market and "the best" varies person to person.

I know some old guys who have been using the hammer reloader kits since the late 80's.

[FromTheGrave]

Kempf gun shop/reloading did or still does do kits like this. Not aware of anyone else who does.

That's just a press and dies set though. I think he means a full set to get you loading including scale, chamfer and debur tools, trimmer, etc.

[09cs]

Has anyone thought of simply doing this to help the shooters wanting to get into reloading?

So, the sets you buy from Lee or Hornady or RCBS are good, but within a few weeks, most of us are going...crap, I should have just bought [insert upgraded] part instead. OR...you have to buy a number of other items as well.

I'm thinking well, hell, why not make a more complete, improved set and sell it?

It will of course be single stage, but it will come with nearly EVERYTHING you need to start reloading properly and will have parts that will be an improvement to what you get in these kits.

For example: balance scales, although accurate, are slow, difficult to work with for most and digital scales are accurate enough and easier to use.

So, with that said, I'm thinking why make improved "kits" that are caliber specific as well. Maybe start with 9mm, 40cal/10mm, 38special/357, 45acp, .223, and .308.

Kits don't have case gauges. Depending on the person's caliber, include the case gauges in the kit. include better case lube if doing .223

Also include the dies for the particular cartridge in the kit.

I would actually set it up so they can literally clamp the press onto a sturdy table; yes, direct bolt on is better, but many people dont have a table to dedicate and the luxury or space, and in my experience, a nicely mounted press to a wood block and very nice clamps and a sturdy tabletop is all you need, especially for pistol and smaller calibers like .223.

whatcha think?

if you think there is interest, i might pursue this further.

I would have loved this when I started like 5 months ago

[bsumoba]

That's just a press and dies set though. I think he means a full set to get you loading including scale, chamfer and debur tools, trimmer, etc.

yes....

or maybe....ill simply just do a list of parts i would have done and let the people buy it....

[B W E]

they can skip the research.

With al due respect, that sounds like a foolish proposition to me. Reloading is not an undertaking where one would do well to "skip the research", even on tools. When I got started I spent HOURS upon HOURS reading everything I could before I bought anything. I wanted to know "which one?" And more importantly "why?". Suggesting that a beginner should take one man's recommendation and "skip the research" is silly. In my opinion, the trial and error is, in a sense, enjoyable. Learning to grow your knowledge and understanding and experience is worth it's weight in gold, and substituting all of that to save a buck and buy what one guy recommends is dangerous in my opinion. They may as well skip load development, ladder testing, using a chronograph, keeping accurate records, comparing groups, and on and on, and just pick the average bullet, average powder weight and call it a day.

Give a man a fish, or teach him to fish?

[Victor Cachat]

They should do like the Beer & Wine making shops.
Let the customer pick the package and extras and offer them a discount for buying it all up front.

Provide lists of various combinations based on various calibers, etc.

[9mmepiphany]

yes....

or maybe....ill simply just do a list of parts i would have done and let the people buy it....

For a list to be really useful, you'd also have to explain why you selected a component over another.

I actually think Hornady did a pretty good job with their basic kit

Lock-N-Load Classic single-stage press
Lock-N-Load Powder Measure
Electronic Scale
The 9th Edition Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading
Three Lock-N-Load Die Bushings
Primer Catcher
Positive Priming System
Hand-Held Priming Tool
Universal Reloading Block
Chamfering and Deburring Tool
Primer Turning Plate
One Shot Case Lube

Is there really anything in that kit you wouldn't use, if you were loading handgun rounds...maybe the chamfer/debur tool.

I'm reloading mostly 9mm and I'd personally add a case gauge and a shell holder, then I'd add:
1. Lyman carbide Sizing die...longer carbide insert
2. Lyman "M" Expanding die...more gentle flare to mouth of case
3. Hornady seating die...sliding collar helps guide/align bullets
4. Lee FCD...just to make sure you got all the Glock budge out; but I could live with the Lyman or Hornady Taper Crimp die
5. Three (3) more Lock-N-Load Die Bushings

[stilly]

Brian Enos actually already does this...and does it pretty well too.
For instance:

http://www.brianenos.com/store/dillon.ez.550.html

If you scroll through like you're going to buy you'll see that he's got the major options down and you can subtract or add as needed. His store is a great resource for reloaders old and new.

HOLY ****ING **** those are expensive kits...

Jesus ****ing Christ... Maybe I saw the wrong thing, but if I saw a startup kit for $1200 I was say **** THAT, I aint reloading any time soon...

Man I am glad I already know what I know. Geeze...

I think the goal of a kit should be to package together the most BANG FOR YOUR BUCK and as low a price as possible; not to buy from the most overpriced repainter/reseller of the Harbor Freight website...

Damn I gotta leave, my arse is still puckered...

[9mmepiphany]

well, the Hornady kit price of ~$300 pales in comparison to that